Ding Yi looked at the man walking in from the door with some surprise.

Why was he here?

The man in the black suit jacket that he habitually wore was only sporting a black silk shirt this time. Perhaps due to the intense heat, the top two buttons, usually only undone during a fight, were already open, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of pale skin.

The long sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his left arm was encased in neat bandages.

His imposing height and robust build caused Qiao Yu to clutch Liu Yanliang’s arm even tighter, subconsciously shrinking away while audibly swallowing, her reaction betraying the effect his presence had on her.

Qin Yuan observed the flicker of surprise on Ding Yi’s face, accompanied by a hint of satisfaction, as a shallow yet cheerful smile graced his lips. He extended his uninjured hand towards her. “This lady looks remarkably familiar, quite like a friend I know who possesses a distinct lack of manners and an abundance of arrogance.”

“Her name is Ding Yi, what’s yours?”

Ding Yi rolled her eyes at him. Just as she was about to swat his hand away, she seized it with lightning speed, her smile suddenly radiant. “What a coincidence, you also bear a striking resemblance to a friend of mine who is utterly devoid of humanity and derives pleasure from the misfortune of others.”

“His name is Qin Yuan, what’s yours?”

Qin Yuan met her challenging gaze, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He shook her hand firmly. “Good name. Then, from this day forward, I shall be known as Qin Yuan.”

“And you, will you continue to be called Ding Yi?”

Ding Yi genuinely thought he was behaving somewhat erratically, but she replied, “Okay. Ding Yi is a good name. Then I’ll be called Ding Yi.”

“Hello Qin Yuan, my name is Ding Yi.”

“Hello Ding Yi, my name is Qin Yuan.”

Liu Yanliang and Qiao Yu exchanged a perplexed frown and silently took a step back, observing the bizarre exchange between the man and woman before them.

Did these two have some mental issues?

“Why are you here?!” Yan Ming and Jiang Xianqing, who had arrived together at the tavern door, widened their eyes in astonishment as they witnessed the two individuals shaking hands, smiling, and introducing themselves to each other.

Jiang Xianqing blurted out, her voice filled with disbelief, “Aren’t you already dead?”

Yan Ming, standing beside her, immediately nudged her with his elbow when he heard her blunt question. “Sister Qing means—”

“It’s so good to see you,” he finished awkwardly.

Qin Yuan’s smile faded slightly as he offered a curt response. Very deliberately, he pulled out the chair next to Ding Yi. Before settling down, he leaned in close to Ding Yi’s ear, his voice a low murmur. “Keep my identity a secret.”

Ding Yi immediately countered in a similar tone, “Do something for me.”

Qin Yuan offered no objection. “Okay.”

Before all Wishers arrived, Ding Yi skillfully deflected any suspicion regarding Qin Yuan’s ‘resurrection’ by feigning ignorance and placing the responsibility entirely on him.

Once everyone had gathered, the electronic female voice prompted, [Please confirm your visual perception upon entering the instance.]

“You should have all seen it clearly when you opened the door, right?”

Ding Yi nodded. “Red.”

Yan Ming’s previously hopeful shoulders slumped visibly. Thanks to their efforts in the last instance, he was now only sixteen stars away from potentially returning to his sister. A-level instances offered substantial rewards, but without Ding Yi’s help last time, he would have perished countless times.

What if he couldn’t survive this time? What would happen to his sister then?

Ding Yi noticed the worry he was trying to conceal and wanted to steer the conversation towards a lighter topic, but she was wary of inadvertently creating the same awkwardness as before.

After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously offered, “But it is amazing that we can be in the same instance again.”

“Right!” Yan Ming’s spirits lifted instantly. “When I saw Sister Qing just now, I thought it was super amazing! After all, I heard that it’s rare to encounter people you’ve met before in a new instance.”

“Being with Sister Qing in the last instance was already an exception. I never expected it to happen again this time, and now I can also be with Sister Ding Yi.”

After Yan Ming finished speaking, he carefully glanced at Qin Yuan and added, “And I can be with Brother Qin.”

Qin Yuan, clearly not expecting to be included in this enthusiastic camaraderie, reluctantly raised his drooping eyelids to look at the earnest young man.

Silly, barely able to have any real influence on Ding Yi.

After this brief internal assessment, he lazily closed his eyes once more.

Two more groups of people entered the tavern from outside.

This time, it was undeniably an A-level instance. Everyone had mentally prepared themselves for a challenging experience before entering, resulting in a somber and quiet atmosphere.

As the last six people walked in, the electronic female voice announced:

[All Wishers have arrived.]

[Welcome everyone to the A-level instance: Animal Town.]

[Identity Hint: Tourist.]

[Instance Task: Within 72 hours, discover and correct the evil in the depths of the hearts of the residents of Animal Town.]

[The task has been released. Good luck to all Wishers.]

“Time limit?” someone muttered, the tension in the air palpable.

Before the newly arrived Wishers could fully process the information and the cramped tavern could become more chaotic, a blond, blue-eyed middle-aged couple emerged from behind the bar.

The woman wasn’t short and possessed a sturdy build, yet she still appeared slender and petite standing next to her husband.

“Welcome to Jenny’s Tavern, everyone,” the woman said with enthusiasm, adjusting the brim of her brown cowboy hat. “I’m Jenny, the owner, and this is my beloved, George.”

---

The situation within the tavern quickly devolved into chaos as the new arrivals jostled for space and information. The moment the initial shock subsided, Ding Yi rose and exited the tavern.

The town outside the tavern had undergone a dramatic transformation. The streets, previously deserted, now teemed with a large number of people who seemed to have materialized out of thin air. Various stalls and shops bustled with activity.

“Where did all these people come from?” Yan Ming asked, a little dumbfounded by the sudden influx of townsfolk.

The town wasn’t small, and the 72-hour time limit added a sense of urgency.

If they genuinely intended to gather helpful information efficiently, the four of them couldn’t all investigate together.

Acting alone was too perilous, making pairs the most logical and safest approach.

Yan Ming suggested, “Why don’t we just play rock-paper-scissors to decide the groups?”

Jiang Xianqing glanced pointedly at Qin Yuan and then slapped Yan Ming’s arm playfully. “No need for guessing. I’m partnering with Yan Ming, and you two can form the other group.”

Ding Yi considered the arrangement and found it acceptable. “Then you must both be careful.”

“Understood, understood. See you tonight!” Yan Ming replied with an eagerness that suggested he was quite happy with the pairing.

Ding Yi watched the backs of the two as they hurried off. Well, they were certainly enthusiastic.

“Let’s go,” she said to Qin Yuan.

---

The streets were bustling, yet despite the increasing crowd, Ding Yi could always find Qin Yuan close by whenever she glanced up.

Compared to the gloomy and silent atmosphere of the previous instance, this place was almost overwhelmingly lively. The people milling about engaged in natural conversations, and even minor accidental bumps were immediately followed by sincere apologies.

The stalls primarily offered fruits, grains, spices, hats, clothing, and a variety of accessories.

She couldn’t determine if the town was on the verge of some kind of festival, but many residents were actively decorating their houses with colorful banners and ornaments.

The relentless heat waves continued to distort the distant views. When they reached a particularly congested area, Ding Yi slipped into a narrow alleyway. Upon looking up, she saw Qin Yuan, who had just expertly navigated the crowd, standing firmly at the alley’s entrance.

“Tired?” he asked, his gaze steady.

“There are just too many people,” Ding Yi replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Qin Yuan positioned himself in front of her, arms crossed, effectively creating a barrier between her and the bustling crowd.

“Have you made any discoveries so far?” he inquired.

Ding Yi casually wiped the sweat from her forehead, loosened her ponytail, and quickly re-tied it in a more secure style.

“What do you think the task actually means?” She didn’t directly answer his question but posed her own. “This task is far too abstract.”

Qin Yuan shrugged, his expression remarkably ordinary. “This is A-level, after all.”

“It should probably be said that this is simply what A-level instances are like,” he added, his tone matter-of-fact.